Siobhan Finneran

Known for ActingBorn 1966-04-27 (age 60)Oldham, Lancashire, England, UK

Siobhan Margaret Finneran is an English television and film actress. She made her screen debut in the 1987 independent film Rita, Sue and Bob Too, and subsequently worked consistently in television drama including roles in Coronation Street (1989–1990), Clocking Off (2000–2002) and The Amazing Mrs Pritchard (2006). In 2005, Finneran originated the lead female role in the stage play On the Shore of the Wide World and was awarded the Manchester Evening News Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Also a comedy performer, Finneran appeared as Janice Garvey, a leading character in the first seven series of ITV sitcom Benidorm (2007–2015). Later television roles include portraying a lawyer in the mini-series Unforgiven (2009), an embittered servant in the first three series of the costume drama Downton Abbey (2010–2012) and a recovering addict in Happy Valley (2014–2023), for which she was nominated for the 2017 British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actress. Later film credits include Mrs Swift in the 2013 film release The Selfish Giant, which earned her a British Independent Film Award nomination. Finneran is also a prolific television documentary narrator. Finneran was born in Oldham, Greater Manchester, then in Lancashire, to Irish parents. She moved with her family to Saddleworth as a young child, and has lived in the area ever since. During childhood Finneran was always drawn to the performing arts and was a fan of the celebrated English comedian Eric Morecambe, recalling that "as a little girl I wanted to be Eric Morecambe. Not to be like him but to actually be him". She completed a theatre studies course. In 2023, Finneran became patron for Manchester based charity Contact Hostel, an organisation that provides support and accommodation for teenage girls facing homelessness.Read more

Movies & web series

The King and Us

Always and Everyone

Inside No. 9

Hunting the Essex Lorry Killers

Downton Abbey

Benidorm: 10 Years on Holiday

Happy Valley

Passer By

Out of the Blue

Wire in the Blood

Motormouth

Conviction

The Royal

Sparkhouse

Time

Cold Feet

The Syndicate

Forensics: The Real CSI

Doctor Who

Benidorm

Where the Heart Is

The Street

Clocking Off

The Reckoning

Death in Paradise

Unforgiven

Snatches: Moments from Women's Lives

Protection

The Sharp End

Alma's Not Normal

The Stranger

The Selfish Giant

A Confession

Apparitions

Hetty Wainthropp Investigates

Boy A

Comedy Showcase

The Widow

Unchosen

Harold Shipman: Doctor Death

Timeshift

Heartbeat

Apostasy

The Moorside

Resort to Murder

The Loch

Johnny and the Bomb

Midwinter of the Spirit